Fair Cop? travels to Portsmouth

Following on from the success of FSF Northeast’s Fair Cop? campaign members in our Southern Division ran their own version before Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Portsmouth on Saturday, February 7th, 2009.

Pompey and Liverpool fans joined forces to hand out Fair Cop? cards – which offer advice on fans’ legal rights and Section 27 – at 19 pubs around Fratton Park, including the four most frequented by the away support. Fair Cop? also gives fans the opportunity to give their thoughts on policing and stewarding at games, be they positive or negative.

Our highly systematic and rigorous post-game research - we asked around on some of the blogs and forums we frequent! – showed that approximately half of the Liverpool support at the fixture were aware of the cards or had been handed one. Considering the logistics of getting a card into everyone’s hand, we thought this was a fine effort.

The value of Fair Cop? can be demonstrated by looking back to last year’s Wear-Tyne derby when supporters were given the unique opportunity to feed in their views on the day’s policing and stewarding. These were then fed back to Northumbria Police, the Football Association, Football Licensing Authority and the local Safety Advisory Group.

Like to see Fair Cop? in your area? The FSF has divisions throughout England & Wales, a campaign budget, and members with experience on how the initiative works. So get in touch and we’ll do all we can to help you get it up and running.

If you would like to get involved with FSF Northeast or the Southern Division and help out and the next Fair Cop? drop us an email.